PaganiZonda R

High gears are fun, too, especially if you want to explore the V12’s wonderful vocal repertoire in detail, from the heavy, churning, guttural pulse close to idle, through the sudden and shockingly open-throated bellow at 3000rpm, to the frantic yowl as the V12 keens to 7000rpm.

Engine

And yet, unlike a turbocharged engine, response is precise, each micro increment of right-foot pressure bringing its exact and rich reward-all accompanied by the sound of an early-1990s Formula 1 warmup lap.

Powertrain

Montermini gives the Zonda a tickle of throttle on the straight that follows and it snaps forward with the alarming ease that distinguishes light cars harbouring big-capacity, violently powerful engines.

Interior

The cockpit isn’t as light and airy as usual thanks to that intake on the roof replacing the usual glass panels, and you are entirely reliant on the antennae wing mirrors to see what’s trying to keep up.

Handling

The suspension is made from magnesium and titanium, while the forged monobloc wheels are aluminium and magnesium, all helping to pare back the weight – and particularly the unsprung weight – to an absolute minimum.